This from David Nemecek about the aerials being built for Chicago:
Hello, just sending a link from the SpartanERV website with a few images of the finished aerials for the CFD. Both rigs seem almost completely marked, one for truck 24 and the other for T-47.
New unit for CFD Truck 24. SpartanERV photo
New unit for CFD Truck 24. SpartanERV photo
New unit for CFD Truck 47. SpartanERV photo
#1 by NJ on June 30, 2014 - 11:54 AM
Dennis, it is my understanding that all of these rigs were spec’ed for someone else, I think Dade. The city got a deal on them, so they took em even though they had to get rid of a lot of stuff they used to carry and there still isn’t room in the cabinets for everything they do still carry.
If you look at the signed contract here
http://ecm.cityofchicago.org/eSMARTContracts/service/dpsweb/ViewDPSWeb.zul
you’ll see there are several spec’ed items on the signed contract that are not on any of the new rigs, including but not limited to the missing cabinet A3 and the storage area in front of the bench for the backboard. (page 104 and 106)
#2 by Martin Nowak on May 17, 2014 - 2:30 AM
I didn’t mean they are new. I know they are on a lot of older rigs. Just hoping there’s more than that one.
#3 by Josh on May 16, 2014 - 9:05 PM
there was more ambos delivered yesterday…they are for ambulances 3. 22. 23. 45. 48. 50. 60
#4 by Dennis on May 16, 2014 - 7:57 PM
NJ, the new ambulance’s all look like that. That rig was NOT built for someone else. There are 5 new ambulances at the radio shops now getting ready to go in service soon and they are the same way as ambulance 13.
#5 by DG on May 13, 2014 - 2:57 PM
Martin, those lights are not new. Many CFD rigs have those green mirror lights, they aren’t emergency lights, only marker lights.
#6 by Martin Nowak on May 13, 2014 - 12:11 PM
From the looks of it, Truck 24 has a green light on the right mirror
#7 by NJ on May 13, 2014 - 10:26 AM
Bill, the Fire Services Inc page on Facebook has shots of the interior. The post was posted on 3/11/14 but if you look it up, you’ll see it. Here is a link to it, hopefully it works for you.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152073152512815.1073741934.226790072814&type=1
I don’t think a retrofit is realistic, but hopefully it gets assigned elsewhere and 13 is not stuck with this rig long term.
#8 by Bill Post on May 13, 2014 - 9:15 AM
NJ perhaps when the CFD starts getting the rigs that they ordered and actually wrote specs for they could either retrofit the rig with more cabinets or just let it be one of special events ambulances instead.
I haven’t even seen the rig yet even though I’m only about 3 miles from their quarters.
#9 by NJ on May 12, 2014 - 8:30 PM
Dennis, I may be mistaken about the specific dept. but I know it was a Florida dept. The memory isn’t what it used to be. I do know it is not what the rest of the CFD WD Type III’s will look like and that it is not well liked to put it mildly.
#10 by Dennis on May 12, 2014 - 7:04 PM
NJ, where did you get your info about that ambulance being built for Miami-Dade Fire Rescue? I don’t believe that to be correct as in all of their current ambulances including the one they just took delivery of is no way even close to ambulance 13’s rig. I do agree that 13’s rig is maybe a demo or reject from another dept. and that they needed new rigs right away so the city bought it to show the news that they are buying new rigs.
#11 by NJ on May 12, 2014 - 2:05 PM
Just as FYI the new Ambo 13 is not to the CFD specs for the WC Type III’s. It was a rig that been ordered for Dade Country in FL that they didn’t want. CFD took it for some reason (it is way short of cabinets and space compared to the ones ordered). That is why there has only been one delivery. The ones ordered by CFD are not ready yet.
#12 by Bill Post on May 12, 2014 - 1:18 PM
Mike Mc , have you seen the photo of the new Ambulance 13 on this site yet? it was put on this site within the last few weeks. It is one of the walk through type 3 models. I haven’t seen what the new Type 1 models will look like however.
There is no question that Truck 24 really should have a new station and while the city probably can’t afford to build 4 new stations at the moment it wouldn’t be a bad idea if they started making plans as to where the next (perhaps 2) new stations should be built.
#13 by Mike Mc on May 12, 2014 - 11:33 AM
Bill: We are getting off topic here but as late as 1975 there was talk of Truck 24 moving to Engine 120 and Flying Manpower Squad 2 moving to Truck 24. In order for the move to be accomplished, Truck 24 was going to swap rigs with Truck 59, who at the time had a Mack-Magirus rear mount. I’m not sure, but I believe 120’s apparatus floor did not pass inspection for a truck.
With regard to the current situation, if and when the BLS ambulance at Engine 120 converts to ALS, perhaps they will move Ambulance 29 to Engine 121.
I’m sure they measurered the length of the rig. My concern is how recently the apparatus floor has been reinforced and to what weight capacity. Another concern is what type and size ambulances they will purchase in the future.
#14 by Bill Post on May 12, 2014 - 10:50 AM
That’s a good point Mike Mc. Apparently they have room for Ambulance 29 but with the extra length of the new rig that’s a good question. Several times in the past the CFD had numbered new rigs for companies only having to reassign them.
One such instance that comes to mind was when Chicago first received the 1975 model Hendrickson/Morita lift 135 foot elevator Ladder. It was originally numbered for Truck 2 but it was reassigned to Truck 1 as Truck 2’s station couldn’t handle the rig. I don’t know if was strictly a weigh issue or if it may have also had something to do with the dimensions or the height of the rig versus the door to the single bay house.
I had also heard that in around 1996 when (Chicago was still purchasing the single rear axle Seagraves) that they had wanted to assign one of them to Truck 47 but because of a height clearance they had to reassign the rig to Truck 56. In Truck 47’s case apparently length of the bay wasn’t an issue as they were able to fit their current Pierce into the same bay as Engine 59’s rig. I’m sure that’s why they assigned Engine 59 one of the short wheel based HME Luvernes.
Speaking of Truck 24 they are now officially in the last of the single Truck houses now that Tower Ladder 63 has Engine 12 in service at their station.
I was surprised that they had built a new station for Engine 121 and Truck 40 before they built a new house for Truck 24.
At one time (around 1968) the fire department’s consultant had recommended moving Truck 24 in with Engine 120 however Engine 120 house was too short. For a while there had been talk of building a new station in the vicinity of Vincennes and 111th street. I’m talking about the 1970’s
so this isn’t recent.
In a more recent “in house” study that was done by the Chicago fire departments “Research and Planning Division” around 1986 it was recommended that 4 new stations be built which would have been in the 22nd and the 24th Battalions. in the in house study Truck 24 was recommended to be moved into a new station further east to 115th and Emerald and had recommended that Engine 104 move in with them. Engine 104 was still located downtown at the time and that report had recommended that Engine 103 be moved into Truck 61’s house instead.
The report had also recommended building a new station for Engine 93 at 103rd and State street and putting a Truck company in service with them as well.
The other 2 new stations that were recommended were for Engine 75 (at 130th and Indiana) also with a Truck company assigned and for Engine 97 at approximately 3100 east 130th street ( a few blocks north of their present quarters) also with a new Truck company assigned their.
Most the new Truck companies would have been created by taking several Engines out of service and using the manpower to create new Truck companies so only one new company would really have been put in service.
While the new stations in that in house study were never built, the idea of moving Truck 24 further east still does make alot of sense as 22nd Battalion has become one the busier Battalions in terms of fire and ems duty and if you consider how busy Truck 27 is it would be a good idea to have at least another Truck closer to them.
#15 by Eugene O on May 12, 2014 - 9:55 AM
Yes mike that is also my question , can the new truck 24 go in the firehouse, I am from the far southside i attend school on 103st and that firehouse is little small for a 103 foot aerial ladder.
#16 by ff24/7 on May 12, 2014 - 9:38 AM
you can put blue and red colored lense on rigs so im assuming that clear lense second from the left will be green. the blue lights will be in the back like FDNY does they don’t put blue lights in front just in the back
#17 by Mike Mc on May 12, 2014 - 9:06 AM
Sharp looking rigs. Am I safe in assuming that Truck 24’s apparatus floor can take the additional weight and that the slightly longer length of the new truck will not be a problem? As eveyone knows Truck 24 is a very old firehouse with only one appartus bay.
#18 by David on May 12, 2014 - 8:53 AM
@TurkWLF: Yep, I thought that some of the clear ones can house either green or blue, but I’m surprised that they (for some unknown reason) don’t use colored lens like with the buggies. From what I’ve seen the FDNY for example is already heavily into the blue stuff equipping the new rigs with blue rear lights (blue lens), seems that CFD is not going that way so far.
#19 by Josh on May 12, 2014 - 8:00 AM
Robert, which company are you assigned to?
#20 by Turk_WLF on May 12, 2014 - 7:59 AM
David,
It could be very possible that the far left clear light could be blue or green when lit up.
#21 by David on May 12, 2014 - 2:02 AM
As to the lights, I’m surprised I don’t see any blue, I’m quite curious if these two rigs will be the last CFD apparatus with the blue-less color configuration or they already dumped the color after they tried it on the few buggies.
#22 by Bill Post on May 12, 2014 - 1:31 AM
It’s interesting to note that 2000 E-One Trucks which are gradually being replaced by the Spartans Ervs , will be the last of the single rear axle Trucks in frontline service. Not including the spare rigs of course,
It’s apparent that the year 2000 was a transition year for fire apparatus as weight/ support requirements were apparently changed as shortly after those E-Ones were purchased ,Aerial Ladder Manufacturers seemed to discontinue single axle chassis for 100 foot rear mounted ladders. From then on the fire apparatus manufacturers like E/One and Seagrave seemed to discontinue selling their 100 foot Aerial Ladders on single rear axle chassis and the manufacturers only sold the shorter 75 foot (more or less) Aerial Ladders on single rear axle chassis.
Over the last 2 years however E-One has resumed marketing a new single rear axle chassis apparatus equipped with a 100 foot aerial ladder called the Metro 100.
I believe that the new Metro 100 meets the stability requirements for a 100 foot aluminum Aerial Ladder.
It is also interesting to note that 2000 was probably the last year that the old single axle chassis ladders were available as during the latter half of 2000 the CFD had took delivery of the it’s first 2 rear mount Aerial Ladders on tandem rear axle chassis by Pierce which were the prototypes of a much larger order of the same model Trucks over a year latter.
In 2000 the CFD was desperately in need of some new apparatus which explains why they had purchased a few one of a kind rigs like the single American La France Engine and single Freightliner Engne as well the American La France Tower Ladder and the nine E/One Aerial Ladders which were on a different style chassis then the following orders for Pierce Ladders and Spartan Engines which were more customized to new CFD apparatus specs.
#23 by CFD 1979 on May 11, 2014 - 11:23 PM
On the left light set, is the second from the left a green colored light? With the new light sets, it does not necessarily need to be a colored lens to produce a colored light.
#24 by Robert on May 11, 2014 - 9:08 PM
Dennis I meant a reserve seagrave in place of a pierce that’s oos.
#25 by Bob on May 11, 2014 - 8:00 PM
So the shops are not going to put a green light on the light bars? I thought that the manufacturer couldn’t put the green light on, but CFD could once it hit the streets
#26 by Dennis on May 11, 2014 - 7:53 PM
Robert, No company has an assigned Seagrave anymore. The oldest straight stick trucks are the 2000 E-Ones and Pierce. Also remember no more green lights so the lighting will be different and also remember before these were Spartan cabs on Crimson body’s now it’s all one company SPARTAN ERV.
#27 by Robert on May 11, 2014 - 5:23 PM
We will be getting more trucks. Spartan has already started building two more not too long ago. I forgot which company has been using a seagrave for some time. But they will be getting a Spartan
#28 by 0.03 on May 11, 2014 - 3:57 PM
It also looks like the cabs are a little bit different. The roofs are bitched by the main ladders and I don’t remember seeing the other Spartans like this.
#29 by hugo on May 11, 2014 - 12:09 PM
That emergency lighting set up is different
#30 by Dennis on May 11, 2014 - 12:03 PM
Bill Post, the E-One’s and the 2 trucks assigned to Truck 47 and Truck 52 are also 2000’s.
#31 by Bill Post on May 11, 2014 - 12:00 PM
Thanks for posting the photos.
The company assignments are a surprise to me and to be frank I was expecting that the two new Ladders would have been assigned to Trucks 30 and 49 or perhaps Truck 40 which is an “ALS Truck company”. While Truck 47 is using one of the 2 original Pierce Aerial Ladders that were ordered by the CFD. I was expecting that the rest of 2000 E/One Ladders would be replaced first as those rigs were a little older.
Perhaps they were having mechanical issues with Truck 47 or Truck 24’s rigs?